IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  I4S80 

(716)  872-4503 


Of 


w 


Q>- 


w. 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions 


Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historlques 


1980 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


T 
t( 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  cop/  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 
D 

n 

D 
D 
D 
D 
D 


V 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 

Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagde 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pellicul6e 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  otkier  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serr^e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  aoded  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
11  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutdes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  itait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  filmAes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplimentaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m^thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


D 
D 
D 

n 
n 
n 

D 

n 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag6es 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pellicul6es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d6color6es,  tachet^es  ou  piqu^es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Quality  indgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppl^mentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc  ,  ont  6t6  filmies  d  nouveau  de  fapon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


T 

P 
o 

fi 


0 
b 
tl 

si 
o 
fi 
si 
o 


T 
si 

T 

IV 

di 
ei 
b( 
rii 
re 
m 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmii  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

y 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


tails 

du 
Ddifier 

une 
nage 


The  copy  filmed  here  hai  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library  D'vision 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  las^  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ♦-  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method. 


L'exemplaire  fllmA  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
gAnArositA  de: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Coiumbiii 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  AtA  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetA  de  l'exemplaire  filmA.  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimie  sont  film4s  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmis  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — •-  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ',  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN  ". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmis  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diff^rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  Tangle  sup(6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n^cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


rrata 
:o 


pelure, 
id 


□ 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

.''                 1 

lUo 

q^' 

•                                                                                        ^ 

z? 

7.-RR 

OK  ' 

; 

ON 

• 

IN  1 

tliuU 

as  eiiiic 

receive 

oil  the 

1 

(1)  li 

in  lieii 

islaiKls 

'* 

(2)  F 

^lay  1  J 

Bering 

of  the  ( 

coiitiim 

l)rote('t 

Bering 

(•"')  I' 

canoes 

(4)  li 

excel  vt 

lawful  t 

The  I 

they  ar 

herd  in 

and   nil 

than  ai 

whales, 

either  i 

*            .                                                                   ' 

The 

extent 

inigrat( 

breed  in 

In  the  ( 

nious  i\ 

, 

and  ge) 

' 

Wop 


7.-RRMARK8  ON  TKK  MOVKMF.XTS  AND  Hm-:K:)IN(H;H()rN|)S 
OF  TIIH  FUU-SKAL,  IIASFI)  ON  OhSFKVATlONS  MADE  WllILK 
I     ON  THl^:  UNITED  STATES  NA\'AL  I'ATKOL  OF  BElUNi;  SFA 
IN  iSDi. 

Ky  Joux  .).  Bkh  K.  (  umiiiandrr,    I'liilal  SttileH  ^^((vy. 


Under  the  tcrinsol' the  award  of  tli(;  lJeriii.<>-  Sea  arbitration  tribnnal, 
as  enacted  into  law  by  tlieaetof  Conj^ress  of  Ajn-il  G,  1804,  the  fnr-soal 
received  the  followiny'  jtrotection  wiiile  absent  from  its  breediug-grounds 
on  the  Tribilof  Ishmds: 

(1)  Iniinnnity  from  i)ursnit  or  capture  at  any  lime  and  in  any  manner 
in  Bering-  Sea  within  a  radius  of  00  geographical  uuk's  of  the  seal 
islands. 

(2)  l"'urther  immunity  from  pursuit  or  capture  in  any  manner  between 
i\Iay  1  and  July.ll,  inclusive,  in  tliat  part  of  tlie  i'aciiic  <  )(H'an,  including 
Bering  Sea,  north  of  tlie  tliirtytilth  degree  of  north  latitude  and  cast 
of  the  one  liuudred  and  eightieth  degree  of  longitude  from  (ireenwich 
continued  as  far  north  as  the  sixtieth  degn'c  of  latitude;  thence  the 
protected  area  is  bounded  hyaline  drawn  northeast  to  the  center  of 
Bering"  Strait. 

(.'5)  Immuiuty  from  jiursuit  by  any  other  tluin  sailing  vessels  and 
canoes  or  undecked  boats  proi)clled  by  sails  or  oars. 

(4)  Immunity  from  capture  by  nets,  firearms,  air  guns,  or  explosives, 
excei't  tiuit  shotguns  may  be  used  outside  of  Bering  Sea  during  the 
lawful  season. 

The  migrations  of  the  fur-seal  are  so  regular  and  well  nau'ked  that 
they  are  easily  taken  advantage  of  by  sealers,  who  know  where  the  seal 
herd  may  be  looked  for  at  any  giviMi  time.  The  seal  is  thusdilferently, 
and  much  more  unfavorably,  ]»laced  as  regards  natural  protection 
than  are  some  other  marine  mammals  that  arc  sought  by  man,  the 
whales,  porpoises,  and  sea-otter,  for  instance,  whose  juoveuients  are 
either  irregular  or  not  fully  understood  by  the  hunters. 

The  movements  of  pelagic  aninnds  are  inlluenced  to  a  very  great 
extent  by  the  temperature  of  the  water  in  which  they  exist.  The 
ndgratory  instinct,  whether  leading  them  to  feeding-grounds  ov  to 
breeding  grounds,  api)ears  to  lie  dominated  by  the  water  temperature. 
In  the  cas(^  of  oceaiuc  tishes  like  the  cod  and  mackerel,  and  of  anadro- 
nious  lishes  like  the  salmon  and  shad,  the  deterndnation  of  the  time 
and  general  course  of  their  migratious  by  the  water  teuqu'rature  is 

bio 


574 


KEPOKT    OF    COMMISSIONEli    OV    FLSII    AND    FISIIKIilES. 


well  recognized.  This  saine  inliueiiee  is  not  less  strikingly  exoniplilied 
in  tlM^  extensive  migrations  of  the  Alaskan  In r  seal,  which  cover 
diagonally  1^5  degrees  of  latitude,  and,  following  the  ronte  of  the  herds, 
embrace  a  distance  of  over  2,r)0()  miles,  which  is  traversed  when  the 
seals  are  bound  north  to  their  breeding-grounds  in  Bering  Sea  and 
again  when  they  seek  the  coast  of  the  ITuited  States  after  thebrecdiuL; 
season. 

The  fur-sesvl,  although  usually  described  as  having  almost  huniiiii 
intelligen(;e,  is  reiilly  a  rather  stupid  aninnil,  whose  reputation  forintcl 
ligence  is  based  hirgely  ujkju  appearances  (esi)ecially  its  soft,  beautiful 
eyes,  which  appeal  to  one  in  their  ajjparent  innocence)  and  upon  the 
cleverness  displayed  in  linding  its  way  over  immense  distances  in  tlic 
ocean.  Great  stress  has  been  laid  on  tlie  latter  faculty,  which  has  been 
a  matter  of  more  or  less  speculation.  In  this  and  most  other  move 
menis,  however,  the  fur-seal  is  very  largely  governed  by  the  temi)era 
tare  of  the  water,  and  is  controlled  by  circumstances  rather  thiiii 
guided  by  intelligence,  as  it  recpiires  but  little  mental  capacity  to  carry 
out  the  laws  that  nature  has  provided  lor  it  by  which  it  Unds  its  w;iy 
to  distant  jjoints  in  the  ocean.  When  compared  with  the  subtle  instinct 
displayed  by  many  species  of  migratory  birds  on  their  way  to  and  from 
the  same  regions  resorted  to  by  the  fur  seal,  the  movements  of  tlic 
latter  are  rather  commonplace.  Combined  with  the  directing  intlueiKc 
of  the  temperature  of  the  water  is  the  wonderful  rajudity  of  action 
which  enables  the  animal  to  cover  with  little  efltbrt  a  vast  area  of  ocean 
in  a  remarkably  short  time. 

The  lonely  and  remote  islands  of  St.  Paul  and  St.  (leorge  are  admi 
rably  adapted  for  the  breeding  purposes  of  the  fnr-seal,  and  are  the  only 
islands  in  the  eastern  part  of  Bering  Sea  or  the  North  Pacific;  Ocean 
suited  to  the  requirements  of  this  j'Mimal.  Owing  to  the  stupidity  <•! 
the  seals  they  are  almost  defenseless  when  on  shore,  and  many  would 
fall  an  easy  prey  if  tlie  islands  were  infested  with  predatory  mamniiils 
or  birds,  while  their  tiriiidity  would  probably  cause  the  eventual 
abandonment  of  the  islands  if,  while  on  the  rookeries,  they  were  liable 
to  the  sights  and  sounds  of  modern  civilization. 

The  seals  leave  the  rookeries  in  the  fall  and  are  driven  out  of  Bering 
Sea  by  the  decreasing  temperature  of  the  wsiter  as  winter  ai)proa(!hes. 
They  then  seek  the  more  genial  waters  otl"  Vancouver  and  California. 
On  withdrawing  from  Bering  Sea,  they  follow  its  current  south  through 
the  passes  in  the  Aleutian  Islands  and  then  meet  with  the  Japan 
current,  which  leads  them  to  the  coast  of  Alaska,  where  there  is  an 
abundance  of  food.  Thence  they  follow  the  cold  current  down  the  coast 
to  Vancouver,  oft"  which  land  the  old  male  seals  remain  and  disperse 
over  the  adjacent  ocean,  having  found  a  temperature  suited  to  their 
condition  in  a  region  well  stocked  with  fish  food. 

The  old  male  seal  is  six  or  eight  times  larger  than  the  female,  and. 
having  a  superabuudauce  of  fat,  requires  a  lower  temperature  of  water 


i 

i 


in  whici 
account 
Tiu;  fen 
inovenR 
where,  1 
tlieir  nc 

The  SI 
combine 
care  of 
uneasy  i 
I'lom  al 
tcmperii 
relief  b; 
only  dir 
tlie  cold 
they  art 

The  c 
rents  w] 
chain,  ii 
where  t 
some  cc 
resorted 
Oir  Sitl' 
nient,  h 
progres 
seals  g( 
Kadiak 
Sea  am 

The  fi 
inents  b 
lioweve 
than  til 
compel  (^ 
oil"  the  I 
course  ( 

The  f 
fish,  as, 
cries  th 
fat,  whi 
viscera 
from  fo( 
vitality 
to  mak( 
the  sail 
journey 
streugt 


IKS. 


OBSERVATIONS    ON   THE    FUli-oEAL. 


.575 


xoinplilicd 
lich  C()V(  1 
tlie  herds, 
when  tlif  i 
U'  Sea  and 
ebrt'ediiiu 

)8t  liuiiiiin 
II  foiintcl 
;,  beautiliil 
I  upon  tlie 
iices  in  tlif 
h  lias  been 
ther  move 
e  tenipi'iii 
itlier  tliiiii 
ty  to  (!arry 
ids  its  w;iy  I 
tie  instinct  | 
o  and  from  1 
snts  of  tlio  I 
gintiuoncc  1 
/■  of  action  * 

ea  of  ocean  i 

■  1 


3  are  ad  mi 
.re  the  only 
cific  Occjin 
tupidity  <•!' 
lany  wcmiM 
\'  manmiwls 
e  eventual 
were  liabU' 

fc  of  Beriii}? 
,]>proach('s. 
California. 
Lththrongli 
the  Japan 
there  is  an 
k'utliecoast  * 
ad  disperses 
ed  to  their  ^ 

emale,  and. 
ire  of  water 


in  wliicli  to  live  tlian  do  the  female  and  youiifj  male  seals.  This  fact 
iiccounts  for  the  separation  of  the  old  males  from  tlu;  r(!st  of  the  herd. 
Tlici  females  and  small  seals  of  both  s<*xes  continue  their  southward 
movement  in  the  cold  Humboldt  current  off  the  coast  of  ('alifornia, 
where,  having  found  the  slightly  higlu^r  water  temperature  adapted  to 
their  needs,  they  disperse  over  the  ocean  in  seandi  of  food. 

The  same  laws  govern  the  seals  on  their  way  to  the  breeding-grounds, 
combined  with  the  strongest  instincts  in  all  animals — propagation  and 
care  of  the  young.  In  spring  the  old  males  are  the  first  to  become 
uneasy  under  the  incn^asing  temperature  of  the  water,  which  has  risen 
from  about  4U°  F.  early  in  February  U)  'ti)^  late  in  Ai)ril,  the  normal 
temperature  sought  by  the  seals  being  between  4(P  and  4(io.  To  seek 
lolief  by  reducing  the  temperature,  the^'  start  toward  the  north  (the 
only  direction  in  which  this  object  can  be  attained),  and,  guided  by 
the  cold  stream  which  flows  along  the  coast  of  Alaska  and  Vancouver, 
they  are  led  in  the  direction  of  the  rookeries. 

The  course  of  the  seal  herd  to  the  Pribilof  Islands,  by  the  cold  cur- 
rents which  flow  from  that  direction  through  the  passes  in  the  Aleutian 
chain,  is  only  interrupted  near  the  '•  Fairweather  (Iround"  off  Sitka, 
where  the  inlluence  of  the  warm  water  of  the  .Iai)an  current  causes 
some  confusion  in  the  progress  of  the  seals.  This  region  is  much 
resorted  to  by  the  pelagic  hunters  and  is  a  vast  slaughtering-ground. 
Off  Sitka  large  [)ortions  of  the  herd  are  often  found,  in  their  bewilder- 
ment, heading  in  various  ways,  and  sometimes  they  make  considerable 
progress  in  the  direction  from  which  they  have  <'ome;  but  finally  the 
seals  get  within  the  influence  of  the  cold  stream  in  the  vicinity  of 
Kadiak  and  then,  through  the  passes  in  the  islands,  they  enter  Bering 
Sea  and  are  virtually  on  the  breeding-grounds. 

The  females  and  young  males  are  influenced  in  their  northern  move- 
ments by  the  same  conditions  which  affect  the  old  males.  The  females, 
however,  on  account  of  their  being  with  young,  make  slower  i)rogress 
than  the  others,  and  are  easily  approached  and  killed  when  fatigue 
compels  them  to  rest  at  the  surface  of  the  water.  The  presence  of  food 
oil'  the  coast  and  estuaries  of  the  rivers  also  aflt'ects  in  some  degree  the 
course  of  the  seals. 

The  feeding  habits  of  the  breeding  males  are  similar  to  those  of  some 
fish,  as,  for  instance,  the  salmon.  During  their  absence  from  the  rook- 
eries they  accumulate  a  vast  amount  of  energy  and  food  in  the  form  of 
fat,  which  is  deposited  under  the  skin,  in  the  muscles,  and  about  the 
viscera;  so  that  after  the  breeding  season  begins  they  abstain  wholly 
from  food  and,  during  a  period  of  more  than  three  months,  retain  their 
vitality  by  assimilating  the  stored  fat,  while  the  other  seals  are  obliged 
to  make  frequent  excursions  to  the  fishing  banks.  In  like  manner,  after 
the  salmon  leave  the  ocean,  enter  the  rivers,  and  commence  their  long 
journey  to  the  spawning-grounds,  they  eat  nothing,  but  maintain  their 
strength  on  the  fat  with  which  they  were  fortifying  themselves  while  at 


l(»l.^-49 


iU(] 


ItKI'URT    OF    COMMISSIONER    <>F    FISH    AND    FISIIKRIl  S. 


8eu,  tojicthcr  witli  tlic  sui)|)l.v  <>f  iioiirisliiin'iit  iVoni  tin  (lisiiitcjirjilioii  i>\' 
the  oillx'ariiiii  tisHiies  smnmiMliii.u  tlii^  ovaiiaii  aiid  s|M'iinati(!  parts. 
Miiicli  begins  us  soon  as  the  lisli  enter  the  stieanis. 

Asi(h'  from  the  (lestruction  of  the  feniah's  and  yonnju'  by  sealing  in 
l>ering  Sea,  the  animals  are  distnrbed  or  hai-assed  at  a  time  wlicn 
they  have  scmglit  seclnsioii  to  rear  their  young.  Ah'eady  a  restit'ss 
ness  and  a  idiange  in  the  hal)its  of  tlie  seals  have  been  obscrNcd  which 
are  indications  of  the  breaking  up  of  the  herd.  The  use  of  lirearnis 
for  killing  seals  in  liering  Sea  being  prohibited  bv  law.  the  spear  inis 
been  substituted.  The  silent  destruction  of  the  latter  instrument  does 
not  frighten  the  seals,  and  its  aim  is  more  certain  and  deadly  than  the 
rille or  shotgun.  The  waj'uing  noise  of  the  lii'cai'm  renders  tlu^  scnls 
more  sliy  and  v»ary  as  the  season  progr«'Sses,  but  with  tlie  spear  tiic 
slaughter  ol  unsuspi(;ious  animals  continues  uninterruptedly  from  the 
eommen(!ement  to  the  end  of  the  season.  As  a  proof  of  this,  it  is  only 
necessary  to  cite  the  W(»nderful  (^atch  of  the  sealing  schooners  this 
year  by  means  of  the  spear.  Notwithstanding  the  comparative  unfa 
niiliarity  of  most  of  the  crews  with  the  use  of  the  spear,  the  luunber  ol' 
seals  secured  by  the  i)elagic  sealers  was  greater  than  ever  before,  and 
the  catch  is  almost  certain  to  increase  year  by  year,  as  the  men  become 
more  dexterous  in  hamlling  the  s])ear,  provided  the  sujtply  of  seals 
holds  out.  Instead,  therefore,  of  the  jjrohibition  of  lireanns  in  liering 
Sea  being  a  serious  restriction  on  the  depredations  of  the  sealers,  it 
really  aids  them  and  renders  the  rooki?ries  even  moic  liable  to  rajiid 
decimation  than  they  were  under  jjrevious  reguhitioiis. 

It  is  reported  that  the  catch  of  seals  by  pre(lat')ry  sealers  in  ISOl  was 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Ido.OOO.  Of  this  numbev  alxait  .")7,()00  seals 
were  taken  from  the  herds  Ix^longingoii  the  Asiatic  shores  of  the  North 
Paeilu;  Ocean  and  the  remainder,  48,()()b,  from  thi^  Alaskan  herd.  In 
the  jnevious  year  the  seals  secured  from  the  herd  rendezvousing  at  the 
Pribilof  Islands  nund)ered  about  :?(»,00b,  and  in  l.S!)2  about  li:),()()0.  Of 
the  seals  from  the  Alaskan  rookeries  taken  by  pelagic  sealers  in  18*.)1, 
al)out  SO  per  cent  were  killed  by  vessels  clearing  from  N'ictoria,  H.  ('., 
and  -0  per  cent  by  vessels  from  Uiuted  States  ])orts. 

The  prohibition  of  pelagic  sealing  b(»(  ween  May  1  and  .Inly  .'il,  durinc 
which  time  the  seals  are  moving  northward  olf  the  coasts  of  the  United 
States,  Uritish  Columbia,  and  southeast  Alaska  and  entering  Bering 
Sea,  necessarily  concentrated  the  oi)erations  of  the  sealers  on  IJering 
Sea — that  is,  during  the  breeding  season.  The  nund)ers  of  seals  killed 
beyond  the  (lO-mile  zone  in  Bering  Sea  between  August  1  and  August 
15, 1894,  were  large,  and  ])erhai>s  7o  or  80  i)er  cent  were  juirsing  femiiles 
that  had  left  their  i)U]»s  on  the  Pril)ilof  Islands  ami  gone  for  food  to 
the  cod  baidvs  lying  from  75  to  200  mil(\s  from  the  rookeries.  The 
death  of  a  female  seal  under  these  circumstanees  meant  also  the  death 
of  her  young  by  starvation.     It  is  therefore  evident  that  more  harm  is 


vicini 
select 

(•■!) 
\vlii(;h 
been 
Htatef 
The 
iiction 
tliat  n 
preser 
iiiival 
ix'lagif 
imd  1( 
iiiiinbe 
tlie  scii 
sp<'cta( 
I'ail  to 

liiiinan 
.•seal  he 


s. 

ic  piirts. 

•ulinti'  in 
Ut"!  wlu'ii 
rostlcss 
h\  wliicli 

,\)v\\v  lins 

H'llt    (1()«'S 

tliiiM  the 
t\w  seals 
;|M'ar  (Ik- 
tVoiii  Hm- 
it  is  only 
iicrs  this 
JVC  uiila 
lUinhiM'  of 
.'tore,  and 
'11  bccoiiii' 
V  of  seals 
ill  IW'vin.u 
sealers,  it 
1)  to  rapid 

II  ISIM  was 

,(UI(I  seals 

the  North 

herd.     In 

siiiji'  at  tlu' 

:),()«)(>.    or 

IS  ill  IS'.M. 
oria,  H.  ^'.^ 

;U,diuin,!j; 
the  United 
iii«;'  HerinK 

on  Uerin.u 
seals  kilU'd 
iiid  Anjiiist 
iii^i'  females 

for  fo()«l  to 
eries.  The 
o  the  death 
ore  harm  is 


OUSKIIVATIONS    OX   TIIK    FUK-SKAL. 


577 


done  to  the  seal  herd  in  the  lew  weeks  of  seallii;;'  in  Aii<;ust  tlian  at 
any  other  time. 

i'ermissioii  was  ;;iveii  by  the  Treasury  Department  to  the  lessees  of 
file  seal  ishinds  to  kill  2(>,()(>H  yoiiiij;  male  seals  in  ISJU.  Nol  withstand- 
ing that  only  7, ")(>()  seals  had  been  killed  there  diiriii]u-  ea<h  of  the  ])re- 
ceding;  years  and  only  I  1,000  ami  1'0,000,  respeetively,  diiriii.n'  tin*  third 
:iiid  fourth  years  before  f:ij;ainst  100,000  aiiiinally  ibr  many  years  with- 
out any  detriment  to  the  herd  belbre  the  rava<;'es  of  the  poacher 
be^'an),  the  les.sees  were  ab'e  to  obtain  only  10,000  marketable  skins  ot 
youii{4"  male  seals. 

The  [)reservation  of  the  Alaskan  fur-seal  nnder  existing  <'onditions 
and  regulations  rests  on  the  very  slender eontiiigency  of  the  i)revalenee 
;»f  tempestuous  weather  (luring  the  month  of  August.  Two  or  three 
weeks  of  good  weather  at  this  time,  by  permitting  the  sealers  to  operate 
without  interruption  outside  the  00 mile  zone  and  on  the  feeding-grounds 
of  the  female  seals,  mean  the  ultimate  and  rapid  destruction  of  the 
seal  herd  on  the  Pribilof  Islands. 

The  Ik  ring  Sea  (piestion,  when  stripped  of  the  maze  of  minor  points 
iiiid  di])Iomatie  usages  incident  to  its  discussion  and  ad.justment,  oflers 
the  following  deliuite  alternatives  of  settlement: 

(1)  Shall  the  Inited  States  (lovernment  eireetually  and  forever  ter- 
iiiinale  this  international  disputeby  absolutely  aniiiliilating  the  Alaskan 
seal  herd  as  tln^  animals  arrive  o!i  the  seal  islands?  or 

(2)  Shall  the  United  States  permit  the  pelagic  poachers  of  IJritish 
Columbia  t<  destroy  tiie  seals  on  their  way  to  the  rookeries  and  in  the 
vicinity,  and  thus  ultimately  destroy  the  legitimate  industry  of  killing 
selected  seals  on  the  islands?  or 

(.'J)  ^Vill  the  ]»ritish  Government  enact  laws  to  protect  an  industry 
which  is  now  gene'ally  conceded  in  America  to  have,  from  the  outset 
been  of  more  commeicial  interest  to  Great  Britain  than  to  the  United 
States? 

The  lirst  i)roposition  may  seem  needlessly  harsh  and  cruel,  but  the 
action  indicated  is  indecMl  huinaiie  and  is  fully  warranted  by  the  facts 
that  no  amount  of  i)rotection  under  (existing  regulations  is  adequate;  to 
preserve  the  seal  herd  and  that  the  patrol  of  Bering  Sea  by  American 
iiiival  and  revenue  vessels  does  not  i>reveiit  the  havoc;  wrought  by  the 
pelagic  hunters  in  killing  annually  -5,000  or  30,000  nursing  female  seals 
and  leaving  their  pups  to  die  of  starvation,  besides  sacriticiing  the  same 
number  of  unborn  seals.  Xo  oiu;  who  has  had  the  opportunity  to  visit 
the  seal  islands  during  the  breeding  season  and  witness  the  distressing 
sjiectacleof  thousands  of  young  seals  in  various  stages  of  starvation  will 
fail  to  acknowledge;  tin;  merciless  barbarity  of  pelagic  sealing  and  the 
liiimam;  i>rinci))le  involved  in  the  proposition  to  wipe  out  the  Alaskan 
seal  herd  at  one  blow. 
J".  R.  Ol- 


■Oi 


